Carers Break, has donated £3000 to Merlin MS Centre after a recommendation from a member of staff.
Every year Carers Break, based at Roche, donates money from their Community Chest to a local cause as an expression of their Social value.
Longstanding employee and night support worker, Claire Le Bailly put forward Merlin MS Centre at Hewas Water after both her and her husband Chris benefitted from the Centre’s Oxygen Therapy department.
In August this year Claire developed a severe inner ear infection which caused her to collapse and break her leg in three places. After surgery and much to Claire’s surprise her GP suggested she could be off work for as long as six months.
Oxygen Therapy has long been used as a treatment to aid recovery for a variety of acute injuries including fractures, strains and tears. Although the chambers housed at Merlin MS Centre were first installed to help reduce the symptoms relating to Multiple Sclerosis, the department now receives a high number of clients with non-neurological conditions. Claire’s husband Chris had been using the pressurised barochambers since May to help aid recovery after his hip replacement.
Claire said; “I was shocked when the doctors suggested I could be off work for up to six months. I knew Chris had found oxygen therapy helpful so I booked to see the Centre’s Clinical Lead, Melissa King who said I could start oxygen as soon as the cast was off. She also gave me some exercises I could do at home. Initially I was having 2-3 sessions a week, I would have come every day but it was a bit of a struggle when I was using a wheelchair. Now I am only using a stick I come four times a week.
“The Centre is incredible, until Oxygen Therapy was recommended to Chris by a friend. I was unaware the Centre can support people with conditions other than MS. I have bumped into old school friends and neighbours and had the most wonderful support from the staff and volunteers. I have seen how much of a lifeline this place is for people whose condition means they are not going to get better, it has made a huge impact on me which is why I wanted to put the charity forward to benefit from this donation.”
Reuben Jenkins, one of Carers Break’s two founding Directors, said; “We are delighted to present Merlin MS Centre with this financial gift with full confidence that it will be used to sustain the vital services offered by this wonderful centre.”
If you would like to find out more about Oxygen Therapy please contact the Centre on 01726 885530.